Washing apparatus



Aug. 4, 1931. J. E. VAN DALL 1,816,990

WASHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2'9 [awn tor 707020.2 VWJa/&&

Patented Aug. 4, 1931 PATENT ()FFICEV ,UNE'TED "STATES JOHN E. VAN DALI, OF COVINGTONpOKLAHOMA \VASHING APPARATUS Application filed December 12, 1928. Serial No. 325,599.

This invention relates to a structure which may be conveniently and broadly defined as a washing apparatus for different species of granular material, and it has more particularreference to a novel machine which is especially, but not necessarily, adapted and designed for washing drill cuttings pro duced when drilling oil andgas wells.

More precisely described, the invention I has reference to a practicable machine which formation produced from exacting analysis f the soil and sand formations encountered at varying levels.

These cuttings are collected and saved for experimentation and study. Before a proper test or analysis can be made by the geolo- Igist, it is usually necessary to wash and dry the cutting. This involves a lengthy and tedious task, is laborious, wasteful and consumes much valuable time.

It is the purpose of this invention to proivide a properly organized structure forming what is believed to be a mechanical achievement in the art, and which is capable of fulfilling the requirements of an apparatus of this class in an efficient and satisfactory manner.

The particular details and their relative association and arrangement will become more readily apparent from the following 40 description and drawings.

tating shaft to which the rack is fastened for operation.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through one of the sample boxes or containers.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary View of a portion of the sections of the rack.

In the drawings in Figure 1, the reference numeral 8 designates a metal tank of appropriate proportion which is adapted to be filled with water. The normal level of the water is as shown in this figure. Thus under normal operating conditions the tank is half filled with water. The tank is supported on appropriate legs 9 and is provided with a water drain. The drain embodies a pipe 10 leading to a suitable source of deposit having a valve 11 connected with a nipple 12 extending upithrough an appropriate fitting into the interior of the tank as shown at 13. This provides a slight elevation for the upper end of the nipple causing it to assume a position above the normally collected waste sediment which accumulates in the bottom of the tank. This Waste material maybe discharged through a' drain neck 14 provided with a removable plug 15. Supported on one side of the tank is a bearing bracket 16 for a shaft 17 which is connected with a suitable drive, for instanceanelectric motor (not shown). This shaft is provided with a beveled gear'lS which meshes with a complemental bevel gear 19 on one end of the operating shaft 20 Within the tank. This shaft 20 terminates in journals 21 and 22 mounted for rogethe'r. The upper section embodies a frame I 24 divided by transverse and'longitudinal' bar members 25 and 26, respectively, into a plurality of cells. This frame 24 carries a plurality of spaced parallel transversely extending retaining rods 27. The lower section also embodies an identical frame 28 whose portions match the corresponding portions of the upper frame, thus allowing the cell forming portions to come into proper alinement with each other.

The frame 28 also carries arch shaped retaining rod members 29. This sectional cellular rack is adapted to contain and hold in proper place a multiplicity of sample containers. Each container is in the form of a box 30 having a screen bottom 3l as shown in Figure 5, and a removable screen cover 32. The boxes are smaller in propor-' tion than the cellular openings in the rack structure into which they are placed as shown in Figure 2. However, the bars 27 and 28 firmly engage the top and bottom of the boxes in the manner to prevent undue play. Incidentally this play is purposely intended to allow sufficient shifting of the boxes during the turning motion of" the rack to produce a desired agitation of the formation material in the boxes.

In. practice these sample containers are of generally rectangular form, and they ples as they are collected.

are. individually numbered so that they may be readily distinguished. Consequently in carrying out the. washing operation, it is necessary tokeep track of the different sam- Then the containers are placed in the-lower section of the rack and when the rack is filled the top section is clamped thereon by bolts or the like .34, preferably arranged at the corners of therack structure. This keeps the containersproperly "assembled and prevents them from falling out during the rotary mo-v tionof the rack" as it splashes through the, water. I As before, stated, the. tank is filled about one half full of water, and the motor is started, the result being that the entire rack structure.- with thesample container is carried through the water. This requires but a few minutes and the sixteen or more sample boxes are then] ready to be removed:

After removal they are emptied. into drying pans having numbers corresponding to the containers, and then placed in, an oven to dry; Hencethe operator has washed six teen or more samples thoroughly in less time thanhe could possibly wash one with the oldplacer method) in conjunction with the drawings will en able the readerto obtaina clear comprehens on of the. compactness and convenience,

\ the'expediency and efficiency of this struce tnre for accomplishing the desired result. Although the structure is especially adapted for washing difierent formations collected for sample takingpurposes, it isunderstood that'it may wellbe. used for washing variousv species Qfi granular materials.

M1n or; changes n size, shape and; rearrangement of parts. coming within the field of. invention may be resorted to, in actualpractice if desired.

A careful consideration of the dflscription 2. In a washing apparatus of the character described including a tank, a pair of superposed frames, a supporting shaft having its ends cranked and journalled in said tank, said frames mounted on said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft, whereby a gyratory movement is imparted to. the frames within'the tank. In testimony whereof I atfix my signature. JOHN E. VAN DALI, 

